All posts tagged member of the month

Pictured: Katie and her husband John doing dips during one of our workout classes.

Each month at Ageless we highlight one of our members that has put extraordinary effort into his or her fitness to such a level that their energy is contagious and spreads to others throughout the gym.

This month we are highlighting Katie Ronald as our member of the month. We asked Katie a few questions about her fitness and workout routine. These are her responses:

What got you interested in fitness?

I have always played sports since before I can remember, and I can barely remember not being outside as a kid. I guess it is somewhat ingrained in my system thanks to my parents, who always supported me playing every sport and pushing us to get outside and play (although now as a parent this likely helped with their sanity as well).

Also as a kid, my parents made TV an accessory and a special treat rather than a necessity. Although, I have always been relatively active in one way or another all my life, I have fallen off the wagon, so to speak, many times.

How do you find/make time to get your workouts in?

Finding time seems to keep getting more difficult, especially since going back to work after having baby #2. My life and schedule are crazy now days, but I have to live by my home and work schedule or I will miss most meetings, etc. that I have going on in my life.

So, scheduling time for exercise is just like adding a meeting to my calendar at work. I just sometimes have to be creative. Morning madness and having the support and family of Ageless working out at 5 am helps me get my day off with a great start and that is usually a good time on my schedule when everyone else in the house is still sleeping.

Sometimes it is heading to the gym or a run in the dark after the kids are in bed or a quick 30 minute run prior to coming home from work. Once I am home and the craziness of home life hits, it can get difficult to get in a workout so I usually work around the times my kids are awake.

What tip(s) would you offer someone who is just starting out?

Just get moving, any little bit helps and everyone has to start somewhere. Do not try to compete with the other people you see at the gym or exercising, your only competition is yourself. Set realistic and measurable goals, as well as multiple small goals that will add up to your ultimate goal.

It takes time and you will not see results overnight or in a week or in 2 weeks. It is a lifestyle change that happens over time, if you try to change everything in one day, you will never stick with it. When you start making small changes, they need to be reasonable changes than fit your personality and work best for you.

There is not one recipe for a healthy lifestyle, you have to find the right ingredients that work for you personally.

What is your current workout routine?

Currently, I am at morning madness (MM) 3 mornings (MWF) a week at 5 am. With the Mt. Everest contest this month, I am getting to the gym early before MM to get my steps in before MM starts. My running routine has slowed down lately, and it has been hard to get my evening runs in with how crazy my home life has been lately.

I usually like to run 3 miles 3-4 times a week in the evenings, and one to two times on the weekend. I am hoping to run a half-marathon in a few months, so I am going to have to get more stringent about getting my weekly miles in here soon.

In your opinion, what is the biggest benefit of exercising?

The way it makes me feel. I feel better when I exercise. I have more energy, and it helps keep my stress in check. Nothing cures a bad day at work or a stressful decision or high-stress busy time in my schedule, like a good sweaty workout at the gym or a long-run. Exercise is my therapy for many things in my life.

Have you seen good results? If so could you go into detail about them?

My best results come when I do both cardio and strength training. I have tried about every type of cardio, and for me personally, I see the best results when I am running. Strength training I do through classes at Ageless. I don’t have enough knowledge and internal love of strength training to get good results on my own, so classes help me get in my best strength training.

How has being a member at Ageless helped you on your fitness journey?

Ageless provides a great support system. It is a large family with familiar faces and a friendly and inviting atmosphere. Members are always inspiring each other. The contests also help get you back on track if you fall off the workout wagon and provide some entertainment with your workout. Also, friendly competition never hurts to get some motivating factors going as well.

Like this:

This has been a long time coming for Jimmy. He has been with us since the beginning and is one of if not the most dedicated gym member that we have. Despite having a busy schedule with work and 2 young children Jimmy always makes time to get his workouts in.

People like Jimmy are the reason why we are in business. Dedicating the time and energy to regularly improve your physical health will in turn improve many other aspects of your life. In addition, working out is the healthiest stress reliever there is, and we all know that, from time to time (some of us all the time) we get stressed and need to blow off some steam.

The best way you can inspire others to get to work on their physical health is to become the example that they look to for the possibilities. This is exactly what Jimmy does EVERY DAY. By most accounts Jim is a normal guy with a busy schedule and young children. All of us are in the same boat. We are all busy, and non of us are going to be pro athletes. But people like Jimmy allow us to see and understand that fitness is a tool we can all use to improve our lives.

We asked Jimmy a few questions

about his motivations and his routine…..

What got you interestedin fitness?

Jimmy: Started out in high school with weight training for football. I was overweight/obese for most of my life until Sophomore year of high school when I started using a NordikTrak (yes I’m that old) and the weight melted off. Continued weight training and running all throughout college. After college and into marriage, working out took a backseat and the weight came back on. Wasn’t until a family member noticed my significant weight gain and I went on a mission–bought a treadmill and the rest they say, is history.

How do you find time to get your workouts in?

Jimmy: Twofold. 1. I MAKE TIME. 2. I have a very understanding and supportive wife who is well aware of my obsession with working out not to stand in my way if I need to go work out for an hour.

What keeps you motivated?

Jimmy: Easy–I know that once the working out stops, the weight comes back on. Weight loss isn’t easy for me, never has been. I need to maintain a rigorous workout routine in order to keep the weight off.

What tips would you offer someone who is just starting out?

Jimmy: If you’re unsure what to do, just do SOMETHING!!! Anything. You wouldn’t believe what walking for 30 minutes a day would do for your general health. Running tips–start out simple, don’t think you have to run a 6:00 minute mile right off. When I started I did about a 10:00-11:00 minute mile. As I continued, I progressed. Find yourself some competition. Do a charitable race. It’s fun and it’s a great motivator. Make yourself work out. There’s 168 hours in a week. Find yourself 5-8 hours in that week to work out. Go hard while you’re working out. If you aren’t sweating or you’re comfortable engaging in a conversation with your buddy—YOU’RE NOT GOING HARD ENOUGH!!!

What is your current workout routine?

Jimmy: 4 days of running, 7-8 miles each time for a total of at least 28-30 miles per week. 2 days of elliptical training/high intensity, low impact weight training taught to me by Pete (7 minute non-stop combination of squats, pull downs, chin-ups, push-ups and kettlebell swings.) Couple days of low intensity, high rep weight lifting. Take one day off (usually Friday).

In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits of exercising?

Besides your health and long life, it just makes you feel good. Once you get the bug, you start to feel “off” if you miss a workout.

Have you seen good results? If so could you go into detail about them?

I started my significant running back in 2006. I started out weighing 220 pounds. About a year later, I was down to 145 pounds (too low!!!) Gained some weight and now at a health weight, BMI.